Paint can protector



- March 3, 19420 E. B. QRGAN 2,275,305

PAINT CAN PROTECTOR Filed Aug. 24, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 March a, 1942. 51B, MORGAN 2,275,305

PAINT CAN PROTECTOR Filed Aug. 24, 19:59 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 3, 1942 Edward B. Morgan, Mount Airy, Pa. 8 Application August 24, 1939, Serial No. 291,744

. 2 Claims. (01.220-90) Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a can having The present invention relates to protectors for paint cans when opened for use.

In marketing paint in relatively small quantitles of a quart or less, the paint is packaged in a tin can having a plug-seal metal top, in most instances, because such closure for cans has been found to produce a good hermetic seal for such products. Cans equipped with a so-called plugsealf top have the upper or open end provided with an internal annular flange, formed with a pressed annular groove therein. The top is disclike and at its peripheral edge is provided with an annular groove which forms a downward extending rib complemental to the groove in the flange to leave a tight seal with the contiguous portions of the groove in the flange thus clamping the top on the can body.

the present invention attached thereto in its inoperative position and illustrating the manner in which the can and the invention may be sold or stored away as a unit;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of thetop part ofthe can shown in Fig. 1 to illustrate details of construction;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the upper part of the can with the top removed and with the shield in operative position, reversed The use of paint directly from such cans, (such as where the brush is dipped. directly into the paint in the can) some of the paint becomes lodged in the groove in the flange so that when the top is replaced, should all of the paint not be used at one time, it is difllcult, and many times impossible, to tightly replace the top to hermetically seal the remaining contents of the can.

Furthermore, after the can has been stored away for a short time and-the paint in the groove becomes dry, the top of the can becomes stuck by reason of the drying of the paint and it is diflicult to reopen the can. There are many other disadvantages in addition to the ones that have been above enumerated which occur to most anyone.

The object of the present invention is th provision of a shield or guard which may be sold with a can of paint-as part thereof, or which may be otherwise distributed, for protecting the receiving groove of a plug cover, when the cover is removed for using paint directly from the can. The shield is so formed that it may be attached to the can to prevent its loss or displacement without materially increasing the overall dimensions of the can and, therefore, the cans with the shield may be packed or stacked on shelves in the usual manner. After using the shield with an opened can of paint the can cover may be invention resides in the sundry details of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts from that shown in Fig. 1, for use when paint is being used directly from the can;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of Fig. 3 to show details of construction;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of an adapter which may be employed with the invention in connection with larger type cans.

. Referring more. in detail to the drawings, in which like characters denote similar and like parts throughout the several views,. ll! denotes a can of the usual type having an inwardly extending annular flange II at its upper end and which flange is provided with an annular groove I! for receiving a complementalrib l3 of a sois in place. It is this groove I2 which becomes hereinafter more fully described and pointed out I bodiment of the invention as at present devised,

filled with paint, when paint is being used directly from the can, making it diflicult to tightly replace the cover, or which causes the cover to adhere to the can, making it difficult in many instances to remove and frequently resulting in the top becoming deformed in its removal as well as preventing the top or cover from making a hermetic seal, thus permitting the paint to harden and become unfit for reuse after storage.

The invention consists in a shield 15 of general cup-shape but having an open bottom. In its inverted position, as shownin Figs. 1 and 2, the shield fits over the top of the can with a binding fit and lies closely to the top and side walls thereof, so that it may be attached to the top of the can and become a part thereof as an article of trade or commerce, while allowing the can to be stacked and packed without requiring much additional space; but, in its operable position, when the cover I4 is removed, as shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 5, the shield extends into the can opening and overlies the groove I2 to protect it against paint being lodged therein when said paint is being used directly from the can.

-The form of the shield herein shown and described, by way of example, has many practical features and comprises, essentially, a substantially flat annulus a having a laterally extending annular flange b projecting from its inner periphery or perimeter, as the case may be and, further, having a laterally extending annular flange c projecting from its outer periphery in a direction opposite to that of the flange b.

The annulus a is designed to be of such area or size as will overlie the groove I! in the cover flange ll of the can body and to have the flange b of such dimensions as will have a slight frictional engagement with the edge Ha of the flange ii, when the shield is in operative position as shown in .Figsa3 and 4, so as to hold the shield in operative position on said edge.

The flange c is of such length or depth as will form a convenient upstanding side wall for the cup-like shield i6 and, when in inoperative inverted position as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, will fit over, with a binding grip, against the seam bead l6 which secures the flange l l to the can ill, or in the absence of such-bead or seam M will engage the side walls of the can l0, thereby holding the shield in position on the can. The length or depth of the flange b need be only slight, sufficient to give a contacting surface to the edge i la and so it may overlap said edge sufficientlyto prevent paint from seeping around said edge to the groove i2. It is preferred that the outer edge portion of the annulus a rest upon the head [8 so as to prevent any paint, which may run along the outside of the flange c, from falling or running into the groove i2.

'If desired, the juncture of the annulus a and the flange b may be reinforced by a bead or bandof wire (I or the like. Since the edge Ila of the flange ii usually lies a short distance below the seam or bead IS, the bead d will rest upon the top portion of the edge Ila and combine with the flange c to prevent leakage or seepage of paint into the groove l2.

Also if desired, there may be provided a wiping bar 11, which is arranged chordally within the flange b and secured atits ends to said flange b.

In Fig. 5, there is disclosed an adapter l8 for use in connection with the shield shown in Figs. 1 to 4 and with paint cans oflarger size or diameter. This adapter I8 is merely a plug-cover, similar to the cover it, but provided with an opening l9 which will'receive or accommodate increases the cubical packing area, required for an individual can, by the height of the flange b ii i) and the thickness of the flange c. Of course, the

shield may be sold or distributed separate from the can or other receptacle with which it may be used.

Having thus described the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the exact form and details herein described as it is subject to various variations and modifications which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

That which is claimed is:

1. In combination with a paint can having .a continuous groove about its top opening to receive a plug cover for closing the same, of a reversible shield comprising a substantially flat member to overlie said grooved portion in and contact the outer edge at the top of the can to protect the same when in any of its several positions on' the can, said member having a central opening therein to overlie the top opening in the can, a continuous laterally extending flange projecting from the inner and outer perimetral edges respectively of said member at right angles thereto and extending in opposite directions to each other, the inner surface of the outer flange having substantially the dimensions of the outer surface of the wall of the can and the outer surface inner flange will snugly fit into the wall of the opening in the can, and in the other reverse position of the shield the outer flange will snugly flt over the wall of the can and become attached thereto and carried thereby with the plug cover in closed position.

2. In combination with a paint can having a continuous groove about its top opening to receive a plug cover for closing the same, of a reversible shield comprising an annulus whose inner circumference conforms to the top opening of the can, a laterally extending annular flange projecting from the inner edge of the annulus, and an annular flange projecting from the outer edge of the annulus in a direction opposite to the flange on the inner edge of said annulus, said flanges extending substantially at right angles from said annulus, the diameter of the annulus being substantially that of the can to contact the outer top edge thereof and to cover and protect the usual cover receiving groove in the top wall of the can whereby the annular flange on the outer edge of the annulus will telescope with and frictionally grip the side walls of the can, when the shield is in one position, and the annular flange on the inner circumference of the annulus will telescope with and frictionally grip the edges in the top opening of the can, when the shield is in an inverted position.

EDWARD B. MORGAN. 

